​Several orchestras are playing my composition​ ​for orchestra ​​Make Gentle the Life of This World,​​ which uses the speech Robert Kennedy gave in Indianapolis on the day that Martin Luther King was killed in 1968. This year ​marks​ the 50th anniversary of the MLK and RFK assassinations.. This is the work that was awarded a "Special Judge's Citation, Recognizing Unique Artistic Achievement" by The 2012 American Prize in Composition: Orchestra Division (Professional).

January 15 South Bend Symphony, Alastair Willis, conductorhttps://www.southbendsymphony.org/concert/mlk-day-celebration-concertFrom Maestro Willis:Your piece is still ringing in my head! ... I felt YOUR piece perhaps the most perfect piece for the evening. Not just the music, but the way it was crafted with RK's actual voice and the actual chilling reaction to the news. I am deeply grateful to you.... The Indianapolis connection, 50th anniversary, and more, really spoke to me and I'm so glad we did it.

From Maestro Butterman: " [In rehearsal I said] “it’s a remarkably well-crafted work.” At that point the musicians shuffled their feet and tapped their bows. I’ve never experienced that—an expression of appreciation to a composer who is nowhere within earshot! But I thought that you should know that the work is being appreciated and admired....[performance: "We had about 2,000 3rd graders in attendance this morning. The majority of them were African-Americans. It was really very special—they were attentive and riveted during your piece."

​I​ will attend the performances in South Bend, the Netherlands, and MD.​

​

Ray Horton

I am extremely pleased to announce that I have been awarded a 2017-2018 Individual Artist Grant from the Indiana Arts Commission. This is my fifth such Grant since 2003. The grant is to write a work for brass choir or brass band entitled EmeryCrossing which will portray, in several movements, a very interesting road that goes from New Albany, Indiana to the riverfront near Jeffersonville (across from Louisville, KY). EmeryCrossing is a picturesque road which runs past boat dealerships, junkyards, rusted train cars, abandoned homes and beautiful pastures to reveal a breathtaking view of the Ohio River and thriving commerce and industry. My good friend Nate Siler (Trombone professor at Eastern Kentucky University) suggested that I apply to write I work for a college brass choir. Another good friend, Jerry Amend (Principal Trumpet in the Louisville Orchestra and founder/director of the Commonwealth Brass Band) suggested I write it to be playable by British brass band also, and promised to have it played by the Commonwealth Brass Band.